As the food evolves with time, whats being forgotten and left behind are the intricate flavours of the Indian cuisine: a cuisine which is complete and perfect in itself and involves history, culture and flavours in every morsel of food. At such a time, one must appreciate the efforts by the chefs of Novotel Mumbai,…
Textile In The World Of Spices: A Collaboration With The Lookout Journal
I have always insisted that collaborations can lead to magical results. This belief particularly rose out of my affinity for the culinary arts, where the key to building unforgettable delicacies lies in combining and contrasting elements with one another. But, the world of food is not just about the food itself. The magic within kitchens…
Unkempt : A Tale Of A Restless Mind
– By Vernika Awal We spend a large part of our lives chasing myths. Not fairies, angels or demons – those come later. We chase everyday myths – of shaping ourselves up, of having “our” people, of preconceived answers to the great hows and whys. The truth is, we do not really know a particular…
Holiday Inn: Staycation – The New Vacation!
Staycations are a particularly alluring concept, especially of late, because of how our lifestyles are. For the most part, we remain busy with our professional life, and devote the rest of the time to family. It is because of this that local staycations are becoming an increasing trend. With staycations, one does not need to…
Tasting Your Way Through JIA – The Oriental Kitchen’s New Menu
Set in the plush side lanes of Colaba, Mumbai, Jia is an exquisite restaurant that spells warmth and gorgeousness from the onset. The restaurant is located on the lane leading towards the Gateway of India, and the prime location means you certainly won’t break a sweat to locate it. The fine dine restaurant is adorned…
Spice Trails: A Guide To Thekkady, Kerala
I do not remember the last time I took a break of ten days to get away from the city life, and most importantly, from work. While working with a national daily publication, we used to work six days a week and get a holiday only on Diwali and Holi days…and that cycle continued for…
Novotel Juhu: Navratri Done The Tambrahm Way!
I’ve never been exposed enough to South Indian cuisine to call myself a fan; but who hasn’t had the humble idli dosa and enjoyed its simplicity? But authentic South Indian home cuisine is a whole different world, as I recently discovered at the The Novotel, Juhu, where a Navratri-inspired festival of Vegeratri was being held….
#ChutneyDay: Of Saving That Zing!
I have always been the person who prefers pickles over chutneys, but at the same time one cannot deny the place that a chutney occupies in the thaali of every Indian. Growing up I have always preferred the mint-coriander (dhaniya-pudhina) chutney, and I think owe to that to my lack of knowledge of chutneys, in…
Can I Cook? Maybe!
I am decent cook and took to cooking very naturally, thanks to my parents – both of whom are excellent cooks. But I had always wondered how a person who has never been too inclined to step into the kitchen would react to a situation where he/she has to cook a meal. So when Rushina…
The Gateway Hotel, Nashik (Taj Hotels): Of The Old And The New
“Here was a hotel to rival the best in the world, built by an Indian – designed by an Indian architect, too – and run by an Indian.” – R.M Lala, Beyond The Last Blue Mountain One thing that happens as you grow up is that the time that you spend with family unconsciously reduces…
#ChaiPakodaDay: Discovering Mumbai One Pakoda At A Time
Always upbeat about celebrating the international food observance days, it was high time someone took charge and lead the way to celebrate the diversity of Indian cuisine, and who better than Rushina Munshaw Ghildiyal, a food expert who has committed herself to revive the Indian regional cuisine and give it the place it deserves in…
Discovering India One Plate At A Time: A Kutchi Bhatia Meal
I’ve spent my growing years in multiple states of India and it is something I take pride in, as I grew up to be more sensitive towards other communities and their culture. Ask anyone in the family and they’d tell you how conversations were always a driving force for me and the keenness to adapt…
